Journal box



G. F. COUCH JOURNAL BOX Filed NOV. 20, 1950 F eb. 4, 1936.,

Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOURNAL BOX Application November 20, v1030, :seal No. 497,036

9 Claims.

This invention relates to journal boxes and, more particularly, to articulated or two-piece lids adapted to close the outer openings of said boxes.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, .is to Vprovide a two-piece equalizing lid for ,closing the journal box opening, said lid preferably involving a closure member and a hood or spring 'housing having a ball-and-socket connection with said closure member, and resilient means, preferably in the form of a torsion spring, disposed between said hood and closure member, and having a pair of coils seated on the hood,

, an intermediate loop normally engaging the hinge lug of an associated box, and depending ends engaging the transverse lower portion of the hood, which is connected to the closure member.

Another object of my invention is to provide a two-piece lid in which the actuating spring is positioned between the hood and lid proper, with the coils of the spring seated on the hood, and the free ends seated on a transverse portion of the hood, which is connected to the front face of the lid proper bymeans of a ball-and-socket joint, the lspring seats on the hood being so disposed that the spring is maintained under stress, so that its upper end is adapted to engage the hinge lug of an associated box and hold the lid in open or closed position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to theparticular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof Vis defined by the appended claims:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a journal box lid assembly embodying my invention, a portion of the hood or spring housing thereof being broken away to more clearly show the construction.

Figure 2 is a sectional View of the lid assembly` and a fragmentary portion of the associated journal box taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, a portion of a journal box l is shown with an ordinary form of hinge lug 2 extending from the upper wall or roof thereof, to which a journal box lid assembly 3 is p-ivotally connected, as by means of a hinge pin or pintle 4. In the present embodiment, the complete journal box lid assembly comprises a closure member or lid proper 5, a hood or spring retaining member 6 with a connecting strap 'I overlying. the relatively narrow transversely extending or transverse element or tie member 8, which connects the ends of the bifurcated portion or legs 9 which extend beyond the housing portion I0, which normally overlies the coil portions II of the torsion spring` I2 normally disposed between the hood 6 and the lid proper 5.

The transverse portion 8 extending between the lower portions of the extensions 9 performs the double function Vof carrying the lower extensions or tail portions I3 of the torsion spring l2 and a curved, convex or spherical inwardly facing portion or ball I4 `normally disposed in engagement in a corresponding socket or concavely spherical or complementary curved portion I5 in the outer face of the lid or closure member 5. The strap or connecting member 1, which overlies the transverse or ball-carrying portion 8, is connected, on opposite sides of said portion 8, to the lid proper by rivets I6, or other desired means, so that the lower portion of the hood is securely connected to the central portion of the lid proper, with the interlocking balland-socket portions held in assembled position, so that self-adjusting movement or universal equalization at the point of connection is permitted, whereby, although the hinging ears I6 of the hood serve to pivot the assembly to the box, the lid proper 5 is permitted to angle universally with respect to said hood, so that even though the face Il of the box opening I8 may not be true with respect to the pivotal connection, yet the lid will be permitted to equalize so that it seats firmly about the entire periphery of the boxy opening.

The torsion spring I2 is provided for resiliently holding the; lid in open or closed position, and the coils or helical portions Il thereof normally rest on complementary curved seat portions I9 on the housing or hood 6, the intermediate loop or upwardly extending lever portion 20 being desirably formed with a wear plate 2| or anti-friction device, such as a roller (not shown) for engagement with the hinge lug 2, in the usual manner. The free ends or depending tails I3 of the spring are desirably received in corresponding pockets, or on seats 22 on the transverse connecting portion 8 or lower portions of the extensions 9 of the hood 6 on opposite sides of the ball-and-socket joint. To avoid the necessity of positioning the hood 6 at too great a distance from the lid 5, that portion of the lid adjacent the coils II is preferably depressed or pocketed, as indicated at 23, to receive the adjacent portions of said coils. The lid may be of pressed or cast construction, and formed with inwardly extending corrugations 24, and with the usual peripheral flange 25.

Relative movement between the spring and hood is limited by the resiliency of said spring, which, as will be seen, is supported in the hood at its lower ends, and at intermediate portions thereof. Relative movement between the hood and lid proper, or closure member 5, is limited by the clearance provided between the transverse member 8 of the hood and the adjacent face of the lid, and the clearance between the strap or connecting member 1 and the front face of the ball portion I4 of the hood, as will be understood.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that I have provided a two-piece resiliently pressed self-adjusting or equalizing lid assembly for a journal box, said assembly involving a lid proper or closure member, a hood or spring retainer member, and a connecting portion or strap holding the ball portion of the spring housing member in engagement in a corresponding socket in the outer face of the lid proper. Because of the tails of the spring being received in the hood, as well as the coil portions thereof, the only pressure exerted by the spring action on the lid is through the ball portion I4 of the hood, so that said pressure is applied at the proper place on the lid, that is, at the center thereof, so that said lid is pressed into iirm engagement with the box around the full periphery of the box opening, the necessary equalizing between the lid and spring housing or hood being permitted by the ball-and-socket connection, while undesired relative movement is prevented by the provision of only the requisite clearance between the parts.

Although I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug and a lid assembly pivotally carried thereby and comprising a retainer with spring abutment portions and a lid proper connected adjacent the center of the latter by a ball-andsocket joint, and a torsion spring with intermediate coil portions seated on said retainer, lower end portions engaging said abutment portions, and the upper portion engaging the hinge lug.

2. In combination, a journal box having a hinge iug and a lid assembly pivotally carried thereby, said assembly comprising a retainer with a bifurcated portion providing downwardly extending legs connected by a tie member, a lid proper connected to the retainer adjacent the center of said tie member by a ball-and-socket joint, and a torsion spring with intermediate coil portions seated on the retainer, lower end portions engaging lower portions of said legs on opposite sides of the ball-and-socket joint, and with its upper end normally engaging the hinge lug.

3. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug and a lid assembly pivotally carried thereby, said assembly comprising a retainer with hinging ears, a housing portion adapted to enclose a torsion spring, and downward extensions joined by a transverse connecting member, said connecting member having a spherical portion, a lid proper engaged by said spherical portion and forming a ball-and-socket joint therewith, a connecting member overlying said transverse member for preventing disengagement between said retainer and lid proper, and a torsion spring with intermediate coil portions seated on the housing portion of the retainer, lower extensions seated on the transverse member thereof, and an upper extension normally engaging the hinge lug.

4. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug and a lid assembly pivotally carried thereby and comprising a hood with a lower transverse portion and a lid proper movably connected adjacent the center of the latter by a member with ends connected to the lid proper and an intermediate portion bridging said lower transverse hood portion, and a torsion spring disposed between said hood and lid proper and comprising a spring wire formed into a pair of coils seated on the hood, a loop portion extending upwardly therebetween and normally engaging the hinge lug, the ends of said wire extending downwardly from the coils and resting on that portion of the hood which is connected to the lid proper.

5. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug and a lid assembly pivotally carried thereby and comprising a hood with its lower portion bifurcated to provide downwardly extending legs connected by a transversely extending hood portion and a lid proper movably connected adjacent the center of the latter to said connecting portion, and a torsion spring disposed between said hood and lid and provided with coil portions seated on the hood, an intermediate loop portion engaging the lug, and the free ends or tails of the spring engaging said legs adjacent the ends of the transverse portion.

6. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a two-piece lid pivotally carried thereby and comprising a hood pivoted to said lug, and formed with lower extensions connected at their lower ends by a transverse portion, a closure member, a member bridging said transverse portion and with its ends connected to said closure member and allowing for universal equalization between said hood and closure member, and resilient means disposed between said lid and hood and held at lower and intermediate portions by said hood with its upper end adapted to engage angularly disposed portions on the hinge lug for holding the lid in open or closed position.

7. A journal box lid comprising a closure member, a spring housing provided with hinging ears for connection with an associated journal box, said housing being bifurcated to provide a pair of downwardly extending legs, the lower portions of which legs are joined by a transversely extending connecting portion, said connecting portion carrying a convex spherical portion normally engaging a corresponding concave spherical portion on the closure member and forming a ball-and-socket joint therewith, means for preventing disengagement between said connecting portion and closure member, a torsion spring with intermediate coil portions seated on the housing member, lower extensions seated on the lower end portions of said legs, and an upper extension adapted to engage the hinge lug or an associated journal box.

8. An articulated journal box lid comprising a closure member, a hood formed with hinging ears adapted for connection to an associated journal box, and lower extensions connected at their lower ends by a transverse portion, a, member bridging said transverse portion and with its ends connected to said closure member and allowing for universal equalization between said hood and closure member, and resilient means disposed between said closure member and hood, held at lower and intermediate portions by said hood, and having an upper portion adapted to engage the hinge lug of an associated journal box.

9. An articulated journal box lid comprising a closure member with a concave spherical surface on its outer face, a hood formed with hinging ears adapted for connection to an associated journal box, and lower extensions connected at their lower ends by a transverse portion having a part with a convex spherical surface nesting in the concave spherical surface on the closure member,

a member bridging said transverse portion and with its ends connected to said closure member and allowing for universal equalization between said hood and closure member, and resilient means disposed between said closure member and hood, held at lower and intermediate portions by said hood, and having an upper portion adapted to engage the hinge lug of an associated journal box.

GLENN F. COUCH. 

